Application
Riders wishing to be considered for the 2003 East zone squad for the 2003 Pan American Endurance Championship to be held in Trout Lake, Washington on September 13, 2003, must complete an application (attached) and return it to Duane Barnett, 6144 Kernersville Rd, Bellews Creek, NC 27009, to be received no later than April 15^th. Any questions regarding this form, please contact USA East Selector Chair Duane Barnett; phone: 336-332-1792 or e-mail:docduane@aol.com. A complete application must include:

Nomination Form
Horse Ride History Form
Rider Ride History Form
Proposed Ride Schedule
Nomination Fee of $ 75.00 for the first horse and $35.00 for each additional horse. Make checks payable to: USA East.

Initial Qualifications
The horse, rider, and horse/rider combination must meet and have completed the following minimum criteria per AERC International / USA Equestrian Procedures by April 15th, the close of nominations:

RIDER

1. Be a current member in good standing of AERC
2. Be a current member in good standing of AERC International
3. Be a current Senior or Junior Member in good standing of USA Equestrian
4. Be a current member in good standing of USET
5. Be at least 18 years old on the date of the championship (Junior riders – 14 and older by January 1, 2003 – who have been selected by their zone may be granted authorization to compete by their National Federation (NF), USA Equestrian for the USA)
6. Have completed a minimum of 500 verifiable lifetime miles at FEI, USA Equestrian, or AERC rides (each ride of 50 miles or more)
7. Have completed a minimum of two 100-mile one-day rides, under FEI, AERC, or USA Equestrian rules
8. Be a United States Citizen and reside in the zone for which he / she is nominating

1. Be entered in the AERC mileage program and have an AERC number
2. Be recorded with its National Federation (USA Equestrian for U.S.-owned horses)
3. Be at least 7 years old (84 months) at the time of the event
4. Have completed a minimum of 500 verifiable lifetime miles at FEI, USA Equestrian, or AERC rides (each ride of 50 miles or more)
5. Have completed a minimum of two 100-mile one-day rides, under FEI, AERC, or USA Equestrian rules

1. Have completed a minimum of 200 verifiable lifetime miles (as a combination) at FEI, USA Equestrian, or AERC rides
2. Have completed a minimum of one 100-mile one-day ride, under FEI, AERC, or USA Equestrian rules

Multiple Nominations
One rider may nominate multiple horses or multiple riders may nominate one horse. Each horse and rider combination will be considered as an independent nomination and will be evaluated on their individual merit and qualifications. Each individual horse/rider combination must meet all requirements to nominate and must complete a 100-mile/one-day ride during the evaluation period.

A Rider who nominates on more than one horse may request permission, in writing, from the Zone Selection Committee to have another rider demonstrate on the nominated horse at weight, during the evaluation period. The request must provide an explanation for the substitution and the substitute rider must meet the Initial Rider Qualifications as set forth in these selection procedures. For purposes of selection this horse/substitute rider combination will be evaluated as if the nominated rider demonstrated the horse.

Certificates of Capability
All horses and riders wishing to compete in the 2003 FEI Pan American Endurance Championships must meet the criteria for obtaining an FEI "Certificate of Capability." (Please note: an actual certificate is not issued.) In order to earn a Certificate of Capability, both the horse and rider (not necessarily as a combination) must have completed at least ONE of the following within 24 months of the closing date for the nominated entries of the event:

1. A CEI**** of the same distance as the Championship (no speed requirement)

OR

2. A CEI*** in one day or over 2 days at a minimum speed of 12 kph

OR

3. Finished in the top 50% of finishers at a CEI***

OR

4. Finished within 140% of the winning time at a CEI***

Passports and Veterinary Regulations
Horses competing in the PAC will not be required to have a current FEI passport, but will be required to present either a National USA Equestrian Passport or certified health papers meeting FEI Veterinary Regulation criteria and a completed Horse Identification Form and properly identifying the horse. The championship will be run under FEI Veterinary Regulations.

Equine Influenza Vaccination, Vet. Regs. Annex VI
All horses for which an FEI passport, National passport, or certified health papers have been issued must have a vaccination section endorsed by a veterinarian, who is not the owner of the animal, stating that it has received two intramuscular injections for primary vaccination against equine influenza, given no less than 21 days and no more than 92 days apart. In addition, a booster injection must be recorded as having been given within each succeeding 12 months, subsequent to the second intramuscular injection of the primary vaccination. A nasal vaccination is permissible for the boosters only. None of these vaccinations must have been given within the preceding 7 days including the day of the competition or of entry into the competition stables.

The above are the minimum requirements for influenza vaccination. Both the primary series and first and subsequent booster injections should be given according to the manufacturer’s instructions which fall within the stipulation of the FEI ruling. In many cases, booster injections are recommended by the manufacturers at intervals more frequent than 12 months.

Selection

Selectors

The Selection Committee will consist of four voting members plus the Chairman for the Zone Selection Committee, per AERC International Procedures.

The 2003 Selectors will be posted on the AERC website or available by mail upon request once they have been chosen.

Conflicts of Interest
No person involved in the Selection Process, including but not limited to zone selectors, team veterinarians, and others making any selection decisions, shall have had, during the entire Selection Process, any financial or other interest, including as coach, trainer, or otherwise, in an applicant horse, or have had financial dealings with a rider or owner or members of their families, nor be a member of the family (See article 132 of USA Equestrian Rules) of an applicant rider or owner. If within the entire Selection Process an individual has had any financial or other interest as outlined above, he/she shall recuse himself/herself from the selection process. Further, each decision maker in the selection process shall be required to fill out a conflict of interest statement (attached), disclosing any potential conflicts with any of the applicants. Potential conflicts as disclosed will be reviewed by the USA Equestrian Endurance Committee, and a decision will be made as to whether the stated conflict is deemed disqualifying.

TheEach Zone Selection committee will verify that all applicants meet the initial qualifications after the closing date of nominations. Upon verifying the qualified entrants the committee will post the list of applicants that have met the initial qualification criteria and the zone squad will be selected from this list, which will be referred to as the Approved Applicant List.

The period of time between April 28 to June 30th will be considered the evaluation period. The Evaluation Period is the time each horse/rider combination has the opportunity to show that they are capable and prepared to compete at the highest level of competition.

At the time of nomination, each applicant must provide a schedule of rides to be entered during the Evaluation Period. An Approved Applicant Listed rider is subject to observation by a Selector at every 100-mile / one-day ride in which an Approved Applicant Listed rider competes during the Evaluation Period. The Selectors may or may not observe a ride of lesser distance. An Approved Applicant Listed rider may change his/her ride schedule but must notify the Selectors’ Chairman of any such changes prior to the official start of the ride(s) in question. The Selection Committee may alter the schedule, or appoint alternative events, as necessitated reasonable circumstances. The Zone Selector Chair is responsible for notifying all applicants of these changes. or immediately following the ride if prior notification is not possible.

Riding "at weight" during the Evaluation Period: Each nominee must complete at least one ride of 100 miles or more where the horse will carry a minimum weight of 154 lbs or 165lbs (depending upon what the organizing committee requires) per FEI standards (saddle bags and water bottles to be empty when weighing). This is to be defined as riding "at weight." Completing a 100-mile in one-day ride at weight during the Evaluation Period is required for an Approved Applicant Listed rider to be selected to the Squad List. The ride designated to be ridden at weight is subject to approval by the Selectors as being a ride acceptable for evaluation purposes. A ride ridden at weight during the Evaluation Period allows the Selectors to evaluate a horse’s condition, soundness, and ability to compete at weight under FEI standards in the months preceding the 2003 Pan American Championships.

Please note for the Biltmore, Old Dominion, Top of the Rock and Pine Tree rides points will be calculated against all nominated USA East riders entered in the ride.

For Washoe, Sunriver and Fort Howes rides the points will be calculated against nominated riders from all zones entered in the ride.

This selection process is based ENTIRELY on MERIT and shall consist of head to head competitions among the NOMINATED RIDERS. Only the placing and finish time of NOMINATED RIDERS will be included in calculation the point scores for each SELECTION TRIAL. The NOMINATED RIDERS compete only against each other. The placing and finish time of non-nominated riders is not considered. Horses will be clearly marked to indicate that they are competing in the selection trial.

Riders may choose to do as many selection rides as they wish. However, the selection and ranking of rider/horse combinations from the Squad and Squad Alternate will be based on the highest point totals from no more than TWO trials. If three or more rides are completed the lowest scores will be dropped.

A point score will be calculated for each Approved Applicant List horse/rider combination that completes a selection trial.

1. The SELECTION SCORE for each horse/rider combination at each selection trial will be calculated as follows:

Selection Score = Completion Points + Placement Points + Time Points

1.1. Every rider that is awarded a completion for the ride will receive 100 Completion Points.

1.2. Placement Points will be awarded to the first twenty (20) nominated riders to complete the ride. The first nominated rider to finish and complete shall receive 200 points, and that number shall then be reduced by 10 for each succeeding nominated rider to complete based upon their order of finish. The twentieth nominated rider to finish shall receive 10 Placement Points.

1.3 Time Points shall be awarded to all nominated riders who complete if their ride time is within 3 hours and 20 minutes of the ride time of the first nominated rider to finish and complete. The first nominated rider to finish and complete shall receive 200 Time Points. Each subsequent nominated rider shall be awarded Time Points equal to:

200 - (the number of minutes that they finish behind the first nominated rider)

For example, if the first rider finishes with a ride time of 11 hours and the fourth rider finishes with a ride time of 11 hours and 20 minutes, then the first rider will receive 200 Time Points and the fourth rider will receive 180 Time Points (200 - 20 min). All nominated riders who finish within the same minute as determined by the ride management finish line timer will receive the same number of Time Points.

1.4. The maximum Selection Score that can be achieved at a selection trial is 500.

1.5. A placement tie is permitted if: 1) the riders agree among themselves to declare a tie and share the total points awarded to their placings; or 2) if the ride management finish line timer declares that the actual placing of the riders is too close to be called. In either case, the total points for the placings involved (as described in 5.1.2) will be divided equally among the riders. For example, if the first three riders to finish decide to declare a tie rather than race to the finish, they will divide equally the 570 placement points should be awarded for those positions (200 + 190 + 180), or 190 Placement Points each.

2. RANKING TIES. Final ranking and selection will be based on the total Placement Points earned in no more than two selection trials. Ties in total Placement Points within the allowed Squad will not be broken. In the event a tie exists for the last place position on the squad list, then the rider who had the most Placement Points in their most recent Nomination Trial will be selected for the Squad. Ties within the Squad Alternate List will be broken, with tied riders ranked in order of their Placement Points at their most recent Nomination Trial. In the event that ties cannot be broken based solely on Placement Points, the tie will be broken by the toss of a coin by the Chef d’Equipe. The rider whose most recent Nomination Trial was earliest in the selection process will call the toss.

5.3 The AERC Best Condition Score will not be considered in the computation Placement Points.

5.4. Points will be compiled as earned for each ride by the Selection Committee (Selectors). The Selection Committee will provide this information in an appropriate and timely manor. It is the rider’s responsibility to obtain this information from either the East Selection Chair Duane Barnett or the USA East web site: http://usa-east.org

Selection of the Squad
On July 1^st, the squad of 12 horse and rider combinations (18 for host nationzone) and a list of 12 ranked alternates categorized into the top third, middle third, and bottom third will be named by the Selectors based on the selection criteria listed above.

If less than 12 horses complete a 100 mile in one day ride at weight, the Selectors may add additional horse and rider combinations from the Approved Applicant List who did not complete the 100 mile in one day requirement to the Squad list. Any horse and rider combination on the Approved Applicant List who did not complete a 100 mile in one day ride at weight during the Evaluation Period cannot be chosen to the Squad before any horse and rider combination that has completed a 100 mile in one day ride at weight during the Evaluation Period and can not be named to the zone team. All horses and riders named to the Squad must have met the requirements necessary to receive a Certificate of Capability from USA Equestrian.

If a horse is selected to the Squad with multiple riders, the horse may only be named to the Squad once. If a rider is selected to the Squad List with multiple horses, the rider may only be named to the squad once.

Once the Squad List and the alternates to the Squad List have been named, each alternate must declare in writing (email and fax are acceptable) if he/she wishes to remain listed as an alternate to the Entry List. If a named alternate does not wish to remain on the alternate list, the alternate will be removed.

Declaration of Squads and Individuals
Once the zone squad and alternates for the 2003 FEI Pan American Endurance Championship have been named, squad members may only be substituted with alternates for veterinary or medical reasons, or for breach of the USA Equestrian Code of Conduct, or other exceptional circumstances having a direct bearing upon obtaining the best qualified squad for the event which is the subject of the selection. The zone Chef d’Equipe will monitor the squad selected. Should a question arise regarding the preparedness or soundness of a horse / rider combination named to the zone squad, the Chef d’Equipe will consult with the rider and owner concerned, the zone selection chair, and the team veterinarian(s) regarding any potential problem. The zone selection chair, Chef d’Equipe, team veterinarian(s), and one zone selector will act as a review panel to consider the soundness and capability of a horse / rider combination to compete successfully. A team veterinarian shall determine the horse’s soundness. If the review panel votes to eliminate a horse and rider combination named to the zone squad for questionable ability to compete, or if a veterinarian determines that the horse is unsound, and that decision is confirmed by the review panel, this decision shall be final.

The Chef d’Equipe will make the final team selection.

At the competition site, substitution may be made by the Chef d’Equipe in conformance with FEI regulations.

The Chef d’Equipe and the Selectors’ Chairman will choose a replacement for the squad member declared to be unsound or questionable from the list of alternates. The alternates ranked in the top third category highest ranked alternate available will be given first consideration.

Soundness
Horses being considered for the 2003 Pan American Championships may be examined at any time, from the close of nominations through the event, for soundness by a veterinarian representing the Zone who has no conflicts and has signed the attached "Conflicts of Interest Form." Horses found by the veterinarian(s) to be unsound or questionable in any way will be referred to the Selectors’ Chairman who will then assemble a review panel comprised of the zone selection chair, Chef d’Equipe, team veterinarian(s), and one zone selector to evaluate the horse. If the review panel votes to eliminate a horse and rider combination named to the zone squad for unsoundness this decision shall be final.

Equine Drug Testing
All nominated horses are subject to possible drug testing at any or all entered competitions during the evaluation period through the conclusion of the Pan American Championships. Blood and/or urine samples may be collected during any competition at which a nominated horse is officially entered. Samples collected from horses will be tested for the presence of all forbidden substances. Any horse testing positive for any FEI prohibited substance may be eliminated from the Selection Process by the review panel comprised of the zone selection chair, Chef d’Equipe, team veterinarian(s), and one of the zone selectors.

USA Equestrian Code of Conduct
Nominees and horse owners will be required to certify that they have received and read a copy of the USA Equestrian Code of Conduct; that they understand the document, and that they agree to abide by the same.

NOTICE: ALL DECISIONS REFERENCED IN THE SELECTION PROCEDURE FOR THE 2003 PAN AMERICAN ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP SHALL BE FINAL AS MADE BY THE REFERENCED COMMITTEES AND INDIVIDUALS BY SIGNING THE NOMINATION FORM FOR THE 2003 PAN AMERICAN ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP. RIDERS AND OWNERS AGREE TO ABIDE BY ALL DECISIONS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SELECTION PROCEDURES BY THE SELECTORS, CHEF d’EQUIPE, AND TEAM VETERINARIAN, AND USA EQUESTRIAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND AGREE TO HOLD THEM HARMLESS IN THIS REGARD.

Change of Dates:
The scheduled dates for the selection of the Squad and alternates will only be changed in the unlikely event the Organizing Committee requires the submission of the Squad List prior to July 1^st. If such a situation occurs, dates may be advanced sufficiently to meet the requirements of the Organizing Committee.